<– Part 112 – September 10, 1916  | Part 113 – September 17, 1916 |  Part 114 – September 24, 1916 –>

British Mark I tank in action at the Somme campaign

The South African attack on German forces at Kisaki, in German East Africa, ended September 11 with the Allied forces withdrawing. The German commander, Lettow-Vorbeck, abandoned Kisaki 3 days later.

Somme progression at Flers-Courcelette, showing gains by the Guards division, which used the tanks

In Macedonia, the Allies have launched a new offensive September 12, with the intent of pushing the entrenched Bulgarian forces back. Following a two-day artillery barrage and attacks at Malka Nidzhe and Kaymakchalan, the Bulgarians have been pushed back in several sectors, although fighting continues at Kaymakchalan, with heavy casualties.

On September 14, Italian forces, still outnumbering the opposing Austro-Hungarian 2:1, launched the seventh assault across the Isonzo, attempting to broaden the bridgehead they’ve reached at Gorizia. After 17,000 Italian and 15,000 Austro-Hungarian casualties, the assault ended September 17 with no ground gained.

At the Somme, Allied forces launched an assault at Flers-Courcelette September 15, which included the introduction of a mighty, armored war machine called a “tank,” which was used to attack German trenches and provide cover for infantry. The Germans have suffered heavy casualties, and many trenches and some village have been taken, with the Allies gaining nearly 1,000 yards so far.

Battle of the Somme, 1916

That same day, two Austro-Hungarian seaplanes obtained a world first, as they dropped bombs on the French submarine Foucault, forcing it to surface and then be destroyed. The 27 survivors held onto the landed planes until an Austrian torpedo boat took them prisoner. The French, however, had their revenge, as the French sub Ampere torpedoed an Austrian hospital ship, which had to be beached for repairs.

The Bulgarian offensive into Romania has been opposed at Cobadin by a combined Romanian and Russian army earlier today. Fighting is ongoing. At Verdun, more French attacks have failed. At Transylvania, the Romanian offensive continues, gaining support from some local populations, opposed to the Austro-Hungarian occupation.

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